The Meditative Groomer Academy
Get in touch with us at info@meditativegroomer.com
Rooted in Racine, WI – Where passion and education grow
Seedling Program
The Seedling Program is the second building block to becoming a groomer and will prepare the student to join the workforce in a grooming assistant position.
Instructors for Seedling
Stephenie Calhoun
Stephenie Calhoun is an Autistic and ADHD self-taught groomer with over a decade of experience, proudly serving as the Owner and Head Instructor of The Meditative Groomer Academy. She is also known as one half of the dynamic duo behind 'Grooming on the Spectrum,' a podcast and support group dedicated to empowering neurodivergent pet groomers and their allies.
Stephenie’s leadership and expertise shine through her past roles as Training Manager at Calling All Paws, former Illinois State Grooming Team Captain, and certified Nash Academy instructor. In 2024, she was honored with the prestigious 'Up and Coming Speaker of the Year' award at Barkleigh Honors, further solidifying her influence in the grooming industry. She is also a proud member of the North American Model Dog team.
Based in Racine, Wisconsin, Stephenie lives with her husband John and their beloved pets: a cockapoo named Nibbler, Irish wolfhound mix Addison, two playful cats Chiana and Fry, and a curious turtle. When she’s not grooming or teaching, Stephenie enjoys gardening, painting, and foraging, channeling her passion for creativity and connection into every aspect of her life.
Meg Ioffredo
Meg Ioffredo has been a dedicated pet professional since 2012, starting as a bather in a corporate salon and evolving into a highly accomplished groomer and educator. With a commitment to lifelong learning, Meg holds numerous certifications, including Certified Pet Tech Instructor, Certified Feline Master Groomer, Certified Rabbit Groomer, Certified Canine Esthetician, and Fear Free Certified, among others.
As a partner of The Meditative Groomer Academy, Meg is passionate about giving back to the grooming community, focusing on cat and rabbit grooming education. They are also co-host of the 'Grooming on the Spectrum' podcast, championing neurodivergent groomers, and the owner of 'Meg the Traveling Groomer,' providing expert grooming services to pets and their families.
Meg continues to inspire and educate, sharing their expertise to elevate the industry and support fellow professionals.
Michelle Knowles
With over 34 years of experience as a private and professional pet care provider, Michelle Knowles brings unparalleled expertise to the grooming industry. As the owner of All Things Paw, Michelle is a Certified Master Groomer and Master Pet Aesthetician with a focus on pet skin and coat care, fear and trauma recovery, elderly pets, and managing allergic and dermatological disorders. Her career has taken her across the country, working in salons, kennels, zoos, and veterinary hospitals, as well as training in Tuscany, Italy in therapeutic work, hand stripping, and advanced dermatological care. Michelle is certified through NDGAA and IPG, teaches advanced pet aesthetics at the Whole Pet Grooming Academy, and serves on the Master Groomer Council of Best Practices. A nationally recognized speaker, Michelle continues to lead the way in education and innovation in her field
Chris Anthony
After years in retail management and office work, Chris Anthony found her true calling in pet grooming. With nearly 20 years of experience, her career has taken her through countless opportunities, from grooming and managing in small and corporate salons to building her own successful house-call grooming business in New Jersey. Passionate about education and innovation, Chris has dedicated herself to advancing her knowledge in pet care, grooming techniques, tools, and products. She also focuses on scissors, scissoring techniques, ergonomics, and self-care to preserve health and longevity in her profession. As the owner of Have Shears Will Travel and VP of Customer Service and Sales at Evolution Shears, Chris continues to make a lasting impact in the industry. She is also a co-founder and current Chairwoman of the New Jersey Professional Pet Groomers Alliance
Melissa Jepson
A popular speaker and Barkleigh Honors Up and Coming Speaker of the Year 2021, as well as a Seminar Speaker of the Year Nominee in 2022, Melissa Jepson brings over two decades of grooming experience to the industry. Since 2013, she has owned and operated the award-winning Pupscale Pet Salon in Montclair, California. As a founding member of the Association of Holistic Pet Professionals, Melissa is dedicated to creating a soothing and well-rounded environment in grooming salons. Partnering with Precision Sharp to offer high-quality, American-made products, she also enjoys teaching webinars and classes and attending trade shows. A life-long learner with the heart of a teacher and the soul of an artist, Melissa combines her comprehensive knowledge with practical, day-to-day applications to inspire and educate her students
Kate Klasen
Kate Klasen is the owner and founder of Balanced Paws, a holistic grooming salon in Arizona. Starting her grooming career in a veterinary office, Kate has since become Fear Free Certified, a Reiki Master, Crystal Healer, Certified Canine Esthetician, and an expert in canine nutrition through Science Dog. She also teaches pet food and nutrition classes.
Bringing together her experience as a first responder, EMT, 911 dispatcher, and police officer, Kate founded H.E.L.P, an official training center for the Health Safety Institute. Through H.E.L.P, she offers human and pet CPR/First Aid certification, emergency preparedness consulting, and training. Certified by the Health Safety Institute, American Heart Association, AVERT, and Pet Tech, Kate combines decades of experience with a passion for collaborative learning to empower her clients and students.
Classes in Seedling
Total Credit Hours (Courses)
23
Animal Esthetician Level 2
Credit Hours: 10
Instructor: Michelle Knowles
In this webinar, Michelle will show us how to properly prepare tools for the day and teach about zoonotics, behavior, anatomy, and the Red Zone.
Graphic Design Concepts
Credit Hours: 1
Instructor: Meg Ioffredo
In this webinar, Meg will teach us color theory, basic design concepts, and typography.
Health and Nutrition
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Kate Klasen
In this course, Kate will teach us about what nutrition dogs need and how to educate our clients on the matter.
In Person Scissor Fitting Session
Credit Hours: 1
Instructor: Stephenie Calhoun
In this session, Stephenie will fit each individual to their perfect settings on a pair of shears to ensure ergonomic efficiency by reducing hand strain.
Meditation and Groomer Self-Care and Wellness
Credit Hours: 1
Instructor: Chris Anthony
In this webinar, Chris will help us set up a plan for success to take care of our bodies so that we can last longer in this profession.
Everything Shears
Credit Hours: 1
Instructor: Chris Anthony
In this webinar, Chris will teach us the all about grooming shears, which ones to use when, and basic equipment terminology.
Beating Back Burnout
Credit Hours: 2
Instructor: Melissa Jepson
In this webinar, Melissa will talk to us about the very real effects of burnout in this career and teach us how to prevent it from happening in the first place.
Reviewing Bathing Procedures
Credit Hours: 4
Instructor: Stephenie Calhoun
In this course, Stephenie will review the proper procedures and products for grooming all different canine coat types.
Skills Demoed and Practiced
Bathing
Paw Pads
Sanitary Trim
Feet Trim
Clean Face
Total Credit Hours (Skills)
79
Clean Feet
Silhouette Trim - Silky Coat
Silhouette Trim - Sporting Coat
Silhouette Trim - Double Coat
Silhouette Trim - Rough Coat
Ear Plucking